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S.W. MINERS' RESOLUTIONS
S.W. MINERS' RESOLUTIONS NO PAST IN COM B-OVT AND NO INCOME TAX ON WAGES. A special conference of the South Wales Miners' Federation was held at Cardiff to consider the military comb- ing out scheme from the mines and the income tax question. The decisio-ns reached were as follows:— That the Federation take no part in assisting in the recruiting of col- liery workers for the Navy and Army, and that a ballot paper be issued as follows:—Are you in favour of a down-tools policy in the event of the Government proceeding with their mine combing-out schemed On the question of income tax the conference went further than was expected and voted, for the re- storation of the old abatement figure as had been anticipated, but for the total abolition of all taxes on wages. Mr. George Barker presided in the absence of Mr. James Win stone, who is in Canada* as a delegate from the Trade Union Council. There was a full attendance of the members of tke Ex- ecutive Council, including Mr. Thos. Richards, M. P the general secretary. There were 301 delegates present, re- presenting 150,961 members. The pro- ceedings were in private, but an offi- cial statement was supplied. Mr. George Barker said the subjects on the agenda were not new, as they had been discussed on several pre- vious occasions. He explained that a ballot on the combing-out question had been decided upon at the previous conference, but it had not been taken because there was a change in the scheme of recruiting agreed upon by the Miners' Federation of Great Bri- tain. The conference had to consider now the question of taking part in as- sisting in the combing-out of the men who had entered the mines before 1914 as agreed upon by the' M.F .G.B. Mr. Barker then reported upon the result, of the consultation between the deputation and the Chancellor of the Exchequer relative to the reinstate- ment of the C160 abatement before in- come tax became payable. The Execu- tive Council, he said, had decided to recommend the conference to adopt the resolutions carried b ythe M.F.G.B on this matter. THE COMB-OUT SCHEME. I I The conference proceeded to discuss the proposals of the M.F.G.B. on the combing-out question, which were as follows:— "That the Miners' Federation take part in assisting in the recruitment of colliery workers for the Army. "That the suggested scheme be not put into operation until all persons of military age who have entered the mines since August, lk914, have been combed out who were not bona fide miners prior tf.) August 4th, 1914. i'TW. oil c'lilssos of men, irrespee- tive of medical classification, or if they 1 -1 -? I hold exemption from Locai inounais, must be combed out of the collieries I before any further scheme of recruit- ing from the mines be accepted. "That when the new scheme comes into operation it shall apply to all un- married Class A workers from 18 to 41 years of age. "That there be no exemptions. That the scheme apply to all classes of men. I I It was resolved by a large majority "That we take no part in assisting in the recruiting of colliery workers for the Army." This discussion was re- sumed at the afternoon sitting, when, on the recommendation of the Business Committee, it was ordered that the following ballot paper be issued to the workmen by the Council:- A special conference of the South Wales Miners' Federation at Cardiff on October 8th, 1917, decided on the following resolution:—"That the Federation take no part in assisting f in the recruiting of colliery workers for the Navy and Army," and that the following ballot be issued: "Are you in favour of a down-tools policy in South Wales in the event of the Government proceeding with their combing-out of the mines scheme?" This resolution was also carried. INCOME TAX QUESTION. The payment of income tax was the subject of a long discussion, and ulti- mately it was resolved that the con- ference was in favour of the total abo- lition of all taxes on wages. MR. W. BRACE, M P., AND THE DOWN TOOLS' POLICY. -r'to. Speaking at Jirynmawr under tne auspices of the National War Aims Committee, the Right Honourable William Brace, M.P.. Under-Secretary for Home Affairs, sud Brvnmawr ap- peared to be the centre for pacifists, j\s men came for miles around to fur- ther that doctrine. WTien lib read in I the press that day of the down tools ballot paper of the miners on the comb out question he was astonished, and he solemnly declared to that meeting that while their softs and brothers were do- ing their very best at the front they should be given every support. It would be the blackest treachery to withhold labour at the present. time.
I LABOUR PARTY'S NEW CAMPAIGN.
I LABOUR PARTY'S NEW CAMPAIGN. FACIXn THE PROBLEM OF THE REFORM BILL. INCREASE OF CANDIDATES. Like rnanv other political organisa- tions, the Labour party will be pro- foundly affected by the passing of the Reform Bill now before Parliament. A special sub-eommittee off the exe- cutive of the party has been at work for some weeks on a soheme of re- organisation to meet the changed conditions. Until that report is represented and considered by the full executive the future action of the Labour party can be Only a matter of speculation. No actua.1 decisions will indeed, be arrived at until the annual conference of the party meets next January. At the same time, when it is remembered that 5,000,000 married women, 1,000,000 .single women, and 2.000,000 men will be added to the electorate it is to be expected that the Labour party will take steps to aseertaiti what a.mount of support it may count upon among these new electors. ORGANISING THE WORKERS. A large number of the new con- stituents will not be, and, indeed, cannot be organised. It is there- fore proposed to offer facilities for in- divdual electors to becoime members of the Labour party in the constitu- encies in which they are registered. It is not proposed to intc-i-fere with the position of the trade unions, Socialist bodies, and co-operative societies which are at present affilia- ted to the Labour party, but only to widen its borders, so as to take in individuals as well. The numl>er of candidates which will be run at the next General Election by the Labour party cannot be decided until the new constitu- encies have been individually con- s idered. But it is recognised that the part-- has a chance such as it has never had before. It will, like the ether political parties, start, as it were, from scratch. And if the al- ternative vote remains, as is expec- ted, a part of the Bill, no pa.rty will he prejudiced by taking part in a three-cornered fight. Bearing these .facts in mind, it is pretty safe to s,a,v that the number of Labour can didatures will be largely increased at the next election. -46-
C.O.'S RIVER RUSE
C.O.'S RIVER RUSE CRUISING FOR WEEKS IN CAN- OES STORED WITH PROVISIONS. The case of three young oonF.Cn- tidus objectors who succeeded for a Lllne in dodging the Military Service Act by cruising about in canoes well stored with provisions was brought be- fore the II itch in recruiting authorities. The C.O.'s Are S. H. Ogilvie and Cyril Ogilvie (brothers), of Letch- worth, and Charles Light-on of Lon- don. A police report was presented stating A T)olicc re p ort ii- that they were found cruising on the river in the Newport Pagnell district in two canoes, and that they had been travelling about in this way for some weeks. The report added that C-Pil Ogilvie had been remanded for proof of when he became of military age. while his brother and Lighten have been handed over to the military authorities. I 700,000 WOMEN MUNITIONERS. I Ac,ord,ng to the latest returns there were in July 700.000 women employed in the manufacture of munitions in this country. gainst 140,000 in July, 1916, an increase of 400 per cent. The num- ber of men employed shows an increase ditring the SaAnc period of 66.6 per I cent.
[No title]
Glamorgan, it is stated, is to be scheduled as an area infected by wart disease in potatoes. The effect of this j.i. that during the operation of the Order persons will only be able to plant those potatoes which are im- mune from this disease.
MABON AGREEMENT HOLDS I GOOD.
MABON AGREEMENT HOLDS I GOOD. I ¡ CONTROLLERS AWARD IN G WAXIN CAEGURWEN CASE. The Coal Controller's decision in the dispifte between the Gwauncaegurwen miners and the management of the collieries has been given in favour of the workmen. The "Mabon Agree- ment" holds goo  to tlie ment" holds good, in preference to the operation of the Minimum Wage Act. It may be taken for granted that the award terminates not only tk^ Gwauncaegurwen strike, but also tn% dispute at the Ammanford Nos. 1 and 2 Collieries, where the workmen have been on strike since Wednesday of last week owing to the general manage- ger'k s refusal to cause the removal of Gwauncaegurwen trucks from the sid- ings, where they had been brought to be filled. Mr. T. Richards, M.P., general sec- retary of the South Wales Miners' Federation, on Tuesday afternoon re- ceived the following telegram from the Government Controller of Mines:- "Controller has consulted Law Offi- cers of the Crown, whose decision, given this morning, is that, whiie the case is open to doubt, still, on the whole, the Mabon Agreement holds good. The Gwauncaegurwen Company have, accordingly, been directed to comply with this decision."
SUGAR CARDS
SUGAR CARDS GETTING READY FOR DEC. 30th. Local food committees, numbering nearly 2,000, will be busy this week dealing wtih householders' applica- tions for sugar cards, th- lists having closed on Saturday. Altogether, an immense pile of forms has to be gone through. About 17 million were is- sued in English and 100,000 in Welsh; and in with the whole scheme of sugar distribution the Ministry fo Food has circulated 56;} million separate printed documents or articles. Many cards have a'ready beei i^.sae ) and the rest will be distributed s soon as possible. Retailers have been registered, so that ticket holders can select their traders without delay, al- though the distr-bution of supplies by card does not begin before December 30. When that comes about the re- tailer must see, that no customer is supplied twice in one week. If a cus- tomer misses a week lie loses his sup- ply, unless he has previously arranged with the retailer to be supplied at fortnightly or monthly intervals.
MINERS AND THE V.T.-C.
MINERS AND THE V.T.-C. In view of the importance from a national point of view of the local industry, the Army Council has de- "1"1"" 1 cided to exclude from xne v oiun- teer Force all mining officials (such as managers, under-managars, depu- ties, and examiners) and all winding- engine men, pump men, boiler men, fire brigade men stokers, electricians, fire brigade men and rescue men. Subject to the above restrictions miners may be iteoruited f-rtr the Volunteer Force from Fife, Hadding- ton, Edinburgh, Northumberland, Durham, Yorkshire (north of a line running due east and west through Wakefield)..f~*d from the Welsh conn tics other than the steam coal dis- tricts of M(rimotitli and Glamorgan. In the rest d Great Britain no coal miner should be enrolled unless the writ-teal consent of his employer has been obtained hy the commanding officer of the unit concerned. Miners who have alreadv enrolled in Volun- teer Corps mav join Sections A, H, or C in whatever part of the country they may be. 8ft —————
GARNANT.
GARNANT. On Tuesday*evcning another of the series of meetings arranged under the auspices of the National War Aims Committee in Carmarthenshire was held at New Bethel Chapel, Garnant. The Rev. J. Towyn Jones, M.P., occu- pied the chaii, and addresses were de- livered by Mr." Gwyn Morris, barris- ter-at-law, London, Mr. G. Sandford, Birmingham, and the chairman. Mr. Towyn Jones, on rising to speak, re- ceived an ovation, it being his first public appearancxe in his old pulpit since his appointment as one of the Welsh Whips. On the motion of Mr. Thos. Thomas (Glanamman), the meet- ing passed a vote of thanks to the speakers, and r ecordedin inflexible determination to carry on the war to a victorious conclusion.
. ABERCRAVE ! . ABEMRAVE
 ABERCRAVE ABEMRAVE J At Carmel (C.M.) Chapel on Thurs- day evening a very successful benefit concert was held in aid of Mr. Tom Price, Davies-street, who has been in failing health for several weeks. Alder- man i. J. Davies (Maesyderi) presid- ed over a crowded audience. The pro- gramme was arranged as follows :—- Urgan solo, Mr. D. Phillips, A.R.C.O. contralto solo, Miss Maggie Alexan- der; bass solo, Mr. Grifiitli Williams; tenor solo, Mr. Edgar Evans; recita- tion, Miss Janny \Vatkins; soprano solo, Miss Blodwen Harries; baritone solo, Mr. Joseph Watkins; duet, Miss L. A. Jones and Master Dannie Jones; I euphonium solo, Mr. R. Butler; reci- tation, Mr. Gomer Daniel; selection by C,i,ehopkin United Choir (conductor, Mr. John Richards. Those who contri- buted to the second part were Mr. Aneurin (baritone), Miss Maud Wat- kins (soprano), Miss Nellie Davies (con- tralto), Messrs. Win. Donovan and Edgar Evans (duet), Mr. Elias Jenes (recitation), Mr. David Jones (bass) Miss May Alexander (soprano), Miss Jennette Jones (recitation), Miss Maud Watkins and Mr. Dd. Jones (duet).The choir also gave a selection. The accom- panists for the evening were Mrs. Idns Davies, Mr. Dd. Phillips, and Mr. Jno. Davies. It is worthy of note that all who took part were local artistes, and performed their duties most creditably. A substantial sum of money was raised. The secratarial duties were in the hands of Mr. Wm. J. Thomas. The half-yearly services of Noddfa Baptist Chapel were held last Satur- day night and Sunday. The afternoon and evening services were held at Bryn Seion Cong. Chapel, kindly lent tor the occasion. The special preacher this time was Mr. Gilbert Jones, Llanglo- ffan, Pem., who delivered very power- ful sermons. There was an excellent congregation at each service The numerous friends of Mr. Ed- ward Watkins, Pantycwrt, son of Mr. Edward Watkins, Pantycwrt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Watkin Watkins, Pant- ycwrt, will be pleased to learn of his appointment as science master at the Maesydderwen County School. Mr. Watkir.3 has already commenced his duties. We are also glad to learn that Mr. Hopkin Morgan, son of Mr. and Mrs. Morgan, Danygraig, who has been discharged from the army and is con- fined to his room, is making slow but satisfactory progress towards recovery. On our rounds we have come across another of our boys who was wound- ed rather severely in the arm some time ago, namely Pte. Evan James, of the S.W.B., Werngilfachau. He is also recovering very slowly. Pte. Morgan Davies, S.W.B., a nephew to Mrs. E. D. Davies, Rhyd- elen, paid a long expected visit to his old home this week. Pte. Davies, who is a native of the place, enlisted at the outbreak of war, and has fortun- ately escaped from wounds. He re- turned to the front on Wednesday with the best of luck from all friends. The number of young singers is in- creasing in this locality. Miss Sally Jones, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dd. Jones, Morgan-street, proved the win- ner of the girl's solo at the 'Penrhos Eisteddfod a week ago. I
CHARGE AGAINST UNDER- I MANAGER…
CHARGE AGAINST UNDER- I MANAGER DISMISSED. The Swansea Justices were occu- pied for a Long time COIl Monday in hearing a summona for assault pre- ferred against John Thomas, under manager of the Copper Pit GolFery, by a. collier, John Evans. It ap- peared that complainant, wanting to leave the colliery, went to the pay office for,Jiis money, and when there, he said, remarks passed between him and the under manager which result- ed ia defendant reaching over the pay counter and grasping him by the neck. For the defence it was denied that an assault was committed. though complainant had abused de- fendant and attempted to assault him. The magistrate^, finding that a technical assault had been com- mi t ted under provocation, dismissed the. summons. Mr Randall was for tho complainant and Mr Edward Harris for the defendant.
lSTRIKE AT LLANDEBIE.
l STRIKE AT LLANDEBIE. Trouble lias broken out in the 1.lan- debie Colliery, as the' res-It of a dis- pnt-c between the manager and the checkweigher, and all the men there are a lso on strike. «
j SEVEN SISTERS.
j SEVEN SISTERS. It is with great regret we hara to announce the death in action of Sergt. Edward Bennett, 12th Batt. if le Brigade, on September 20th. j The sad news was renewed at the end of last week, and the loss of tbiS deeplv respected hero is keenly felt throughout t]}„ district. A letter (..f I sympathy with the relatives lias been rceived from his Commanding OfficeT, who with th? battalion deplore th? loss of BUeh a, gallant sddier, who had been with them since its form,- tion in 1914. The whole district sym- pathises "lth the relative- in their sad bereavment. A ,memorial service wil be held ft St. Mary's Church >011 Sunday, (Hf. 21st at 6 p.m. Friend s are pleased to see Pt' Walker Hartley home again from the front, this being his second visit from the field of battle. He is the oldest soldier who has enlisted from this place, and has been in France for over two- years. His hair is as whit-e as snow, but he is as young in spirit as the youngest. He joined the Welsh Regt. when he first enlisted, but has now been transferred to the R.E.'s (Pioneers). All his f r ienac wish him the best of luck. What has become of the lights at Seven Sisters this winter? The place is in utter darkness! The grumbling one hear—and other tlidngs,- is such that it would not look nice on paper! Whose fault is it? Is it the Council's, or is it the Defence of the Realm Act popping up again P IVill the District and Parish Councillors not take the matter up? Pte. Levi Washer, R.A.M.C., is home on leave from the westra front, where h has served over two years. This is Pte. Washer's scccr.d visit home. I "Pte. J. M. Jones, A.S.C., arrived home Tuesday from the western front where he has served nearly two years. All axg, pleased to see J. M." look- ing so well. He is the second son of Mr and Mrs. W M Jones. Martin's Avenue. Sergt. T. Wonacott, D.C.M., Grenadier Guards is leaving the wee- tern front shortly for America. He has been appointed instructor for Uncle Sam's Army, and all in the Valley are pround of the honour. and "wish him the best of luck. He has seen over three years service in France. A typical British Tommy. Signaller R J Powell, R.N., was home on leave over the week-end. He is stationed at Crystal Palace, and seems to be enjoying his new life, despite the frequent visits of the Germans. Mr Lewis Thomas, Cwmtwroh. oc- cupied the pulpit at Soar Chapel on Sunday, and preached two sermcos, which were greatly enjoyed. Harvest Festival services were held at St. Mary's Church on Saturday and Monday last. The Rev. H. Jones, preached on Sunday, and the Vicar of Maesteg on Monday. Special anthems were samg by the choir, and Mr J. 0. Williams pre- sided at the organ. The Church was beautifully decorated with abundance of good things, fruit, etc. -.48w--
FROM THE AMMAN VALLEY
FROM THE AMMAN VALLEY At a meeting of persons interested in bee-keeping at Ammanford, it was decided to form a Carmarthenshire Bee-keepers' Association, and branches are to be established throughout the whole county, with a view ultimately of becoming affiliated to the British Bee-keepers' Association. The claim of Mrs. Hannah Hopkins, Hopkinstown, for compensation in re- s pect of the death of her husband, against the Gellyceidrim Colliery Co., was referred to at the Llandilo County Court. Mr. T. J. Randall said the coi- liery company had paid the sum of t300 into court, and he asked for an award, pointing out that the applicant had three children dependent upon her. His Honour ordered that the sum of P,20 be paid out forthwith, 100 be invested in the War Loan, and the balance in the Post Office, out of which Bl weekly should be paid out. Mrs. Drummond and Mrs. McMillan, two well-known members or the Wo- men's Social and Political Union, ad- dressing meetings at Gwauncaegurwen dealt with the question of industrial unrest. They contended that there rhould be no strikes while the war is on. All disputes should be referred to arbitration, and there should be no direct action at all. "We wonicii," concluded Mrs. DrummoYid. "have buried the hatchet while the war is on. and everybody else should do thc sa me.